1 Corinthians 4 - Your Pastor Isn't Perfect And Neither Are You!

1 Corinthians 4 - NIV

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

Paul has a very sarcastic tone throughout chapter 4. He is confronting the pride in the Corinthian church as they regarded their leaders like Apollos, as better than for instance Paul or Peter.  By following Apollos they acted as if it made them more special. They also did not respect the fact that Peter and Paul were apostles, which gave them apostolic authority. Paul says,  

Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?  Verses 6-7

Everything we have been given is a gift from God, so we have no reason to boast about one leader over another. Christians should not be boastful about their pastor, leader, or even their church. They might think because they go to such and such a church, they are a better Christian than those who go to another church. This was the attitude of the Corinthians and he took the opportunity to admonish them for it. 

Paul also points to the special relationship he had witgh the Corinthians based upon the fact that he had brought the gospel to them. The word for "guardians" is also translated "instructor". David Guzik, Enduring Word,  helps us to understand what this meant in Paul's day.

"The instructor was a “paidagogoi,” a guardian or “slave-guide,” who escorted the boys to and from school and who supervised their general conduct." - Guzik 

Importantly Paul then says, "Imitate me!" One might think this is prideful of Paul, but he is saying, "Imitate me to the extent I imitate Christ". In1 Corinthians 11:1 he makes it clear that this is what he means as he says,

"And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ." (NLT)

The Greek word he use for "imitate" is "memesis", where we get the English word "mimic", or "mime". 

Therefore, I Corinthians 4:16 needs to be read in light of 1 Corinthians 11:1, which adds the meaning Paul intended. This is confirmed by all of Paul's other writings on discipleship. Paul never taught that it about following or imitating him, but following and imitating Jesus. 

Finally, Paul recommends Timothy to them. Paul is faithful, and his way of life and teaching are in alignment with Paul's life and teaching. This brings up the importance of how effective it is when the Church raises up leaders from within. When a Senior or Lead Pastor mentors and invests in a younger pastor or intern, it is a great way to maintain consistency in the pastoral leadership and teaching in a given church. 

A great model is when someone starts in for instance Youth Ministry, where they show faithfulness in their life and teaching. Then they sense a call to be a pastor so they go to seminary. They get an education in a variety of subjects that will serve them well as a pastor. Biblical Theology, Church History, Systematic Theology (aka doctrine), and practical courses like Pastoral Counseling, Marital and Family Counseling.   

This served me well, and I have seen it serve many other pastors and teachers as well. I think the main point is we should uphold our pastoral leaders, support their training, pray for them and their families, not undermine their authority with gossip, and not compare them to others. Every pastor has different gifts, different personalities, and different passions, which have been given to them by God. 

A pastor needs to lead out of the unique gift and abilities God has given them. The church needs to support and encourage them as they carry out their calling at the church and accept them for how God uniquely made them. A good interview process through the elder board or council, should also help vet whether this person is a good fit with your church. Many times this involves waiting for the person God has called to your church.  

Do you support your pastor and accept the way God has uniiquely made them? \

Do you have any temptation to get prideful about your leader, your church, or other gifts you have been given to by God? \

Is your pastor's example consistent with what they preach and teach? Would they be a good person to you imitate? 

Remember though, that your pastor is not Jesus. They will make plenty of mistakes and fall short perfection often. As they are appripriately honest about their shortcomings, it should strengthen their relationship with the church, and make it more authentic? After all everyone in the pew needs God grace just as badly as they do!   

Jesus, thank you for those you have called to minister to us and share the gospel with us.  Help us to support the leaders and pastors You have called to our churches. May we accept them for how you have gifted and called them. May we not do anything to undermine the unity of our church for the sake of Jesus who is its bride. Amen.